Armenian Elections

Technology vs. Ideology

Author(s): Alexander Iskandaryan
Editor(s): Iris Kempe, Matthias Neumann, Robert Orttung, Jeronim Perovic, Lili Di Puppo, Hans Gutbrod
Series: Caucasus Analytical Digest (CAD)
Issue: 39
Pages: 2-4
Publisher(s): Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich; Research Centre for East European Studies, University of Bremen; Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies, George Washington University
Publication Year: 2012

International observers evaluated Armenia's May 6, 2012 parliamentary election as competitive, vibrant and generally peaceful, with a campaign characterized by freedom of speech, assembly and media. The results highlighted important trends and challenges in the country's development: Armenia's two major catch-all parties succeeded using non-ideological methods - mostly economic incentives and counterincentives - winning over 80% of the vote between them. While signaling an ideological void which needs to be filled, this outcome may also point toward the emergence of a two-party system, and a more open - if still elitist - political competition.

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